Despite the film's sometimes daunting atmosphere, "The Spiderwick Chronicles" star Freddie Highmore thinks young fans are going to be excited in getting caught up in the story's spiraling web of excitement and intrigue.

"It's kind of dark and scary some points," Highmore said in a recent @ The Movies interview. "But I think kids like it to be on the edge. You get that with CGI creatures that the animators have done. They've sure have done an good job on it."

Adapted from book series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, "The Spiderwick Chronicles" finds twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace (Highmore), their sister, Mallory (Sarah Bolger) and recently separated mother (Mary-Louise Parker) moving from New York City to the remote Spiderwick estate, the former country home to their great, great uncle (David Strathairn).

While Jared first resents the move, some strange happenings in the dilapidated house pique his interest.

It leads him to the discovery of a secret room where his uncle's chronicle "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You" is kept hidden -- a book that, once opened, unleashes a world of fantastical creatures including mysterious fairies and sprites and a friendly hobgoblin. But there are dangerous goblins and an evil ogre on the prowl, too, and if they get their hands on the book, it could cost Jared and his family their lives.

"Spiderwick" is the latest in a string of films that have kept Highmore busy since his critically acclaimed turn as the inspiration for Peter Pan for James M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) in "Finding Neverland." But while "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "August Rush" and a voice role in "The Golden Compass" have further strengthened Highmore's reputation as a diverse performer, the British actor, who turns 16 on Valentine's Day, said that he isn't completely set on making movies for the rest of his life.

True to "Spiderwick" fashion, in fact, he plans on hitting the books to open himself up to a whole other new world.

"At the moment it would be fantastic to continue doing movies," Highmore said. "But you never know, maybe one day I will wake up and think, 'Maybe it's time to try something new.' So I think it's important to carry on with school so you have those opportunities if you decide to do something different."